THIS GROUP OF ROADSIDE ROCKS stretches for several hundred yards adjacent to Park Boulevard. It is a continuation of the group that includes Dihedral Rock and Pep Boys Crag. East and north facing for the most part, the area gets morning sun (even less in winter) and afternoon shade, particularly on the northern ends of the individual climbing faces.

It is possible to go around to the west side of these, with the easiest approach being from Pep Boys down a 300yd beautiful little side canyon that overlooks The Land That Time Forgot. I was fortunate to be able to do 3D images on both sides, which can be found in the Galleries. Overshadowed by its much taller neighbor is a little slabby granite dome named Glory Dome that lies about 150 feet left of Dihedral Rock.

The Swidgeteria

Park at Turnout 1 and walk along the road about 400 yards to the rounded dome. Again, early morning sun, but shade the rest of the day. Two climbs are recorded on Glory Dome, the relatively easy 40ft “Hope and Glory” and the very challenging 60ft “Glory Road.”

Next in line and slightly southwest (further away from the road) rises the imposing The Swidgeteria with seven middling to difficult climbs in the 5.2 to 5.10c category. Naturally, they have names to confound any sane person: “Gordo Started It,” “Three Swidgeteers,” “For a Few Swidgets More,” “Calling all Swidgets,” “The Swidgeteria,” “Swidgets Required,” and “Fidget with Swidgets.”

Lost in the Shuffle / Found in the Duffle

We group together the next two since their names comprise a whole: Lost in the Shuffle and Found in the Duffle. Both have some ‘tough grainy rock’ but are highly rated as far as difficulty go. Some of the climbs on Lost in the Shuffle lift you 80ft to 90ft high. Shuffle climbers can choose one of four routes: “Impulse Power,” “Daddy Long Legs,” “Black Hole,” and “Warp Speed.” Those looking inside the Duffle, also 75ft to 90ft, to see what treats are offered can choose from “Double Impact,” “The Magic Touch,” or “The Gauntlet.” These two too may glow under early morning sun; otherwise, shady the livelong day.

The Land That Time Forgot, west side of Roadside Rocks

I enjoyed photographing a little gap in the rocks that lies in front of this pair. There are numerous small shady Pinyon pines and other typical Joshua Tree NP brush like scrub oaks, yuccas, and the occasional nolina. Shuffle and Duffle photographed well in 3D.

Before we leave you to enjoy the scenery, there is one other dumpy clump of rock, also about 150 yards southeast of Dihedral Rock and closer to the road than Shuffle and Duffle. This is Summit or Plummet Rock—labeled in the first Roadside Rocks image above. With a steep east face that has some very difficult cracks and face routes according to Randy Vogel’s book, all three routes face the road: “Unknown,” “Kodas Silence,” and “Laegar Domain.”

3D Half Side-by-Side Gallery

Once you have shuffled through these images, I’m hopeful you’ll want to stuff your computer duffle with loads of full-size images to pass around to your friends. Thank you for visiting Shuffle / Duffle!